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UNITED STATES PATENT. OFFTCE.

A. D. BROWN, OF GLASGOW, NORTH BRITAIN.

CONSTRUCTION OF FURNITURE.

Specification of Letters Patent No.

tion of the principle or character which distinguishes them from allother things be? fore known and of the usual manner of making,modifying, and using the same, reference being had to the drawingshereunto annexed and to the letters and figures marked thereon-that isto say:

This invention relates in the first place to the so constructing chairsand other articles of furniture that they may be packed in separatepieces within a small compass for easy stowage and conveyance; while atthe same time great strength is insured at the junctions and peculiarfacilities are afforded lfor taking down and rebuilding or fitting up atpleasure.

As applied to chairs the plan consists in the adaptation of wedges ordovetail joints or modifications thereof of metal to the junction endsof the seat, frame and tops of the legs; the socket being on one pieceand the corresponding projection on the other so that a firm ointconnection is easily made by slipping the corresponding surfaces intogear. The same arrangement is obviously suited for other articles offurniture such as washstands toilet-tables stools and other articles.

' This invention relates secondly to the ar ranging and constructingbeds couches sofas and other articles of furniture chieiy of wood insuch manner as to secure all or most of the acknowledged advantagesattending the modern system of metallic structures of this nature; atthe same time peculiar portability is obtained the several componentparts being easily packed in a small compass while when erected thestructures possess superior strength.

In constructing a bed according to this invention the main framework ismade up of thin and deep frame pieces or bars of wood jointed togetherat the four corners by means of wedge or dovetail joint pieces. Acentral longitudinal stretcher bar is passed between the head and footbars of this frame asa stay the two ends of this stretcher beingattached to the head and foot pieces of the main frame by dovetailjoints also and the 19,127, dated January 19, s.

frame is also additionally stayed transversely by a cross piece at thelongitudinal center of the frame all the parts being connected in thesame manner bydovetail joint pieces. Either the vlongitudinal or thetransverse stretcher bar may be made in two pieces as may be convenientdovetail joints being required in such case at the point ofintersection. The frame so constructed is particularly strong while itis as portable and nearly as light in appearance as an iron frame at thesame time possessing all the comfort and elegance of a wooden structure.The pillars or supporting legs are dovetailed upon this frame and thehead and footbo-ards are also dovetailed in between the contiguouspillars. The head canopy or curtain supporter beside being dovetailed tothe top of the pillars is also sustained by metallic or wooden bracketsdovetailed to the pillars and to the canopy framing. The curtain rods ortraverse surfaces are likewise dovetailed at each end to this frame. Itis obvious that couches sofas and similar articles of furniture arecapable of being made on this system with advantage. The dovetailedjoint pieces are of brass or composition metal screwedrecessed orotherwise attached to the timber details.

The several figures on the two sheets of drawings Arepresent variousdetails of the improved arrangements.

Figure 1 on Sheet l of the drawings is a perspective view of a dining ordrawing room chair complete showing that the adoption of the new systemdoes not in any way interfere with the external appearance or finish ofthe work. Fig. 2 is a full size elevation looking on the grooved face`of one of the dovetail pieces and Fig. 3 is an end view corresponding.Figs. 4 and 5 are similar views of the corresponding dovetail projectionpiece. Fig. 6 is a side view of a portion of one of the back standardsor leg pieces with a side and end view of one of the seat frame pieces;Fig. 7 is an internal view of a portion of the back and correspondingseat frame piece showing the dovetails for each side piece of the seatframe and Fig. 8 is a plan of one of the seat frame corners asdisconnected. Fig. 9 is an internal elevation and side view of a chairarm and Fig. 10 is a complete internal elevation of an arm chair. Fig.11 is a plan of a bed frame joint disconnected. Fig. 12 is a plan of thetop of a table pedestal and Fig. 13 is an elevation of the pedestalshowing the two dovetails for the adjustment of the table top and Fig.14 is a plan or horizontal section of the lower part of the pedestalshowing the leg dovetails. legs is represented as fitted in its properposition and another is entirely removed and the third is shown at Fig.15 as just disconnected from the pedestal. Fig. 16 is an inside View ofone of the legs. Fig. 17 is an inside plan and edge view of theprojecting dovetails as a catch for effecting the junction of thedifferent sections of large tables and Fig. 18 is an end View of thecatch corresponding. Fig. 19 is a similar plan and end View of therecessed dovetail. Fig. 2O Ais a plan of the upper side of the framingfor carrying the top and attaching the legs of a washhand stand and Fig.21 is a plan of the table top reversed.

In constructing chairs in this way the tops of the front legs andtheback standards have each a projecting dovetail wedge piece A of brass orother suitable metal slightly sunk into the wood and screwed down fromthe face. These dovetail wedge pieces are set with their narrow ends upso that their two side pieces of the frame are capable of easyconnectionfrom the top side. Each end of the side pieces has acorresponding sunk dovetail wedge piece B dovetailed also externally andsunk to its full depth in the wood and secured by screws like theothers. These pieces are put into their recesses in the Wood frombeneath and as they do not reach quite through the frame piece as at Cno mark is left on the top of the frame. The dovetail or sectional wedgethus revents lateral separation while the longitudinal wedge admits oftightening up by pressing or gently striking the side pieces from above.This binds the whole seat frame well together when wanted for use butwhen wanted for conveyance the parts are easily separated into sixseparate details which can be stowed away with facility.

When arms are to be put on the chairs precisely the same system ispursued as shown at A B in Figs. 9 and` 10 each arm having of course twodovetail connections one at each end for the seat frame and back. Thebed frame joint for connecting the longitudinal to the transverse piecesin Fig. 11 is precisely similar.

In fastening the tops of tables on to their pedestals each top of thelatter has one or more sunk dovetail wedge pieces D and the underside ofthe table has corresponding projections so that the top can be easilyattached by sliding it laterally, when inserting or gearing the wedgesand to attach the feet or legs the base of the pedestal is surroundedwith projecting dovetails E corresponding to sunk pieces F on the upperinner face ends of the legs.

One of the In Figs. 17, 18 and 19 I have shown my improved substitutefor the common table catch. The piece of brass G which is screwed to oneof the table sections has cast upon it the short project-ing dovetails Hwhich is made just long enough and wide enough at its wide face to enterthe wide end J of the slot in the corresponding fastening piece K. Inthis way the connection is made by first entering the projection H intothe slot J and sliding one of the pieces so as to bring the narrow partL of the slot into gear with the part H. This latter form is adopted inthe washhand table Figs. 20 and 21 where the projection is screwed tothe underside of the table top, while the frame for carrying the legshas corresponding sunk pieces. The legs are attached in a similar wayand the ledge surrounding the table top is also fastened on in likemanner. It will be obvious to the practical maker that various forms ofthese wedge dovetail connections may be used. Conical sockets and pinsfor example may be adopted instead of the angular pieces shown in thedrawings, the essential object being the obtainment of a secure andeasily adjustable wedge action for binding together the details offurniture.

Fig. 1 on Sheet 2 of the drawings vis a side and Fig. 2 is a frontelevation of a bedstead constructed according to this invention. Fig. 3is a perspective elevation of the bedstead with curtains and beddingcomplete and Fig. 4 is a plan corresponding to Figs. 1 and 2. These 4figures show the eX- ternal appearance of the bedstead framing and itsfreedom from any outward indication of the mode in which the parts arejointed together.

Figs. 5 and 6 are respectively inside and front views of one of thecorner posts A at the head of the bed, Figs. 7 and 8 are respectivelyfront and edge views of the head board B at the head of the bed andFigs. 9 and 10 are front and end views of one of the horizontal bedsteadframe pieces C. The head board B is secured to the two head corner postsA by means of metallic dovetail wedge pieces D which enter metallicsockets E of corresponding form fitted into recesses formed in the sidesof the corner posts.

Fig. 11 is a plan representing detached portions of the horizontalframing of the bedstead. The corner posts A are squared upon two sidesat the points at which the horizontal bars C are attached to them theattachment being effected by means of the metallic dovetail wedges andsockets F which are screwed into recesses formed in the junctionsurfaces of the frame pieces. The bedstead frame is strengthened bymeans of central bars G, H, and it is preferred to have the transversebar G in a single piece which is jointed to the longitudinal frame barsC by dovetail wedges and sockets at I. The longitudinal central bar I-Iis in two pieces each of which is jointed to the end cross bar C and tothe central cross bar G by dovetail wedges and sockets at J thus forminga very stiffl frame.`

In Fig. 12 is represented the manner in which the canopy frame K isaffixed to the head corner posts A namely by means of metallic dovetailWedges which enter corresponding metallic sockets fitted into recessesat L in the tops of the corner posts A.

Fig. 13 is a front and Fig. 141 an end view of the metallic socketemployed in the several joints of the bedstead framing and Fig. 15 is afront and Fig. 16 an end view of the metallic dovetail wedge fittinginto the socket Fig. 17 is a horizontal section through one of thecorner joints of the bedstead framing and is drawn full size. Recessesare formed in the junction surfaces for the metallic wedges M andsockets N the wedges in this instance being affixed to the uprightcorner post A while the sockets are fixed to the horizontal frame barsC. These wedges and socket pieces are secured in their respective placesby the screws O.

rIhe cross board P at the foot of the bed is fixed to the corner posts Ain the same manner as the head board B as represented in Figs. 5, 6, 7and 8.

The canopy frame K is additionally supported by side brackets Q, whichmay be either of wood or metal according to the degree of lightness orstrength required. The brackets are fixed to the posts A by means ofdovetail wedge and socket pieces; and the canopy frame K is fixed uponthe tops of the brackets and corner posts in a similar manner.

The nature of the said invention having now been described andparticularly ascertained as well as the manner in which the same may beused or carried into effect it may be observed in conclusion that I amaware that the application of metallic oints to the several pieces offurniture also, that the combination of dovetails and staples and oftenons and mortises is old. I therefore disclaim the application ofmetallic joints to the several parts of furniture, whether they consistin dovetails and staples or tenons and mortises. But

That I do claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent isConnecting together the several parts of chairs and of other articles offurniture by the employment of metallic differentially slotted dovetailpieces when the said dovetail pieces are secured into recesses in thewood or material of the furniture by means of screws passing through thebottom of said slots and the center or thereabout of the parts-incombination with wedge dovetailed projections secured also by means -ofscrews, when said screws pass through the central line thereof,substantially in the manner as herein described.

In witness whereof I the said ARCHIBALD DOUGLAS BRowN have hereunto setmy hand the fifth day of January one thousand eight hundred and fiftyseven.

ARCHIBALD DOUGLAS BROWN.

Signed by the said ARCHIBALD DOUGLAS BRowN in the presence of- J. HENRYJOHNSON, JOHN KENNEDY. i

